Notting Hill homeowners and shopkeepers board up their properties ahead of Carnival as police warn criminals to stay away

 
Protection: workmen put up boards outside luxury clothing store Merchant Archive (Picture: Robin de Peyer)
Rachel Blundy22 August 2014

Business owners and residents in Notting Hill have been boarding up their properties ahead of the annual carnival this weekend - as police warned criminals not to disrupt the event.

Scores of wooden boards were erected in streets around the carnival route today to protect shops and homes.

Barricades covered in graffiti were seen outside luxury clothing store Merchant Archive and several plush west London houses.

Westminster Council does not provide hoardings for private properties during the event, according to its website.

But some residents can ask to for council workers to clear litter from their front garden or basement following the carnival if they live within a certain zone.

Residents opposed to the event, which is expected to see more than one million visitors between Saturday and Monday, claim it brings more harm than good to the area.

Notting Hill Carnival hoardings

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The weekend's activities continued to divide Londoners posting on social media today.

Barricade: residents used hoardings in an attempt to protect their homes (Picture: Robin de Peyer)

Daley Ojuederie wrote: "Does anyone else hate the Notting Hill carnival? My house is where it all happens. The only thing I do is go out to bring home some food."

David Stroud said: "Praying for peace ahead of the Notting Hill Carnival, following four stabbings in London in 24 hours."

Meanwhile others voiced their excitement ahead of the three-day party, which was first held in 1966.

One Twitter user said: "This year Notting Hill Carnival is looking like it could be the best in sometime".

Prepared: boards in Colville Gardens (Picture: Asher McShane)

Trevor Taylor said: "Looking forward to Notting Hill Carnival on Sunday and Monday, it'll be mega busy, but working alongside St. John colleagues, we'll cope ok."

Earlier, the Met police issued a stark warning to troublemakers planning to hijack the event, urging them to stay away.

Superintendent Robyn Williams said: "I want to say to those who want to come to cause trouble, do not come, you will be dealt with swiftly and robustly."

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